Oh, how things change

Bedrest. A word I didn't want to hear.

It's been an interesting day. I was supposed to see Dr. L at 11:00 this morning, but my phone rang at 7:45am because she had called in sick and they wanted to reschedule me. I told the nurse that I really needed to see someone today because of the contractions I have been having -- they have increased in frequency, duration, and intensity. So I really wanted to discuss it with someone.

They scheduled me to see Dr. E (the on call doctor) at 10:45am. Less than an hour later, they called back saying that Dr. E was really busy at the hospital and she wanted me to come to Labor and Delivery. So off I went, arriving at about 9:00. They hooked me up to the monitors. The babies sounded really good. Heart rates were in the 150's. They absolutely did NOT like having all of those monitors on my belly. They kicked and punched at them for the entire hour and a half!! They were soooo squirmy. The monitor picked up several contractions. And unfortunately, I am about 1/2cm dilated.

So.....I am on strict bedrest for a week. I'm only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom -- no housework, no driving, no getting the mail, no preparing myself meals, etc. I will see Dr. L next Tuesday and we will re-evaluate at that time. I also have an ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday, so we will have more info at that point.

Any thoughts and prayers everyone can spare would be greatly appreciated!!

Body parts and stretch marks

Within the past few days, I have been able to feel baby body parts above my belly button. I haven't been able to figure out if it is a foot or a knee or something else. But it's one of the most amazing feelings!! It's really hard and if I push on it, it pushes back. I played this little game for about 10 minutes a couple nights ago -- I pushed on the body part and then a few seconds later, it pushed back. I really started wondering if I was ticking the baby off, but he/she kept coming back for more, so I figured it had become quite the fun game for both of us!! I have not been able to figure out which baby I am feeling. They both share the area right above my belly button, so it is really hard to tell.

As for stretch marks, I have not noticed any yet. I must admit, that I am quite surprised. I thought for sure I would have at least a few by now. I cross my fingers and check every day, and every day I have been pleasantly surprised that not a single one has appeared. HOWEVER, I am not getting my hopes up too high that this trend will continue. In fact, I have told myself from the day we found out that there were two babies that I would get them. Therefore, there wouldn't be any disappointments in the end!! Hey, if I grow large enough to have two large, healthy babies, I will wear them proudly!

OB appointment on Tuesday. Probably won't have time to update until Wednesday evening.

Getting the nursery ready

Nate and I were busy this weekend cleaning out the baby room, fixing some touch-ups on the painting, and putting together the furniture! We assembled the 2nd crib (the first one has been put together for several weeks now), the changing table and the toy box. The dresser is 3/4 of the way done, but is now on hold due to a broken piece. We had to re-order the one piece and it should be here in about 10 days. Then the nursery will essentially be done!! We will just need the bedding and some other smaller things. But we will finally be able to picture what that room will look like for the next couple of years!

In baby news, I think Baby B has already flipped head down again. I am not 100% positive, but I am pretty sure that I have two sets of little feet kicking at my ribs. Baby A is punishing my left side, and Baby B is making sure my right side feels just as bruised! Baby B must not have been happy with my last post about not being able to feel him/her move very much -- the past several days, I have now felt Baby B much more than Baby A. Both babies definitely want their presence to be known!

Here I am at 25 weeks. Getting larger by the hour sometimes!!

OB appointment #6

I passed inspection again. Blood pressure was 104/74. Dr. L was very happy about the ultrasound results from last week. She said that their weights couldn't be more perfect. The weight difference between them is only 2%. It's when the weight difference becomes more than 20% that they begin to get worried. I am currently 24 1/2 weeks pregnant but measuring like I am 30 1/2 weeks! Dr. L said that I am looking really good and she is very pleased with how this pregnancy is progressing thus far.

Baby B (the one on the right) really surprised me today because he/she has flipped upside down sometime in the past few days. I really didn't think I had felt that much movement from Baby B in order for him/her to do a somersault. I definitely feel Baby A much more than Baby B -- so needless to say, I was pretty shocked to find out that Baby B is now head up. Baby A remains head down and has been able to find my ribs lately with its little feet!

At my next visit in 2 weeks, I will be taking my glucose tolerance test to see if I have developed gestational diabetes. It is more common in women carrying more than one baby, so I am going to keep my fingers crossed that I pass that inspection too!!

Our babies share so well!

So our babies are learning to share at a very young age!! Well, at least they are learning how to share food! The (unofficial) ultrasound report from yesterday was very good. The babies are right on track with their weight gain for 24 weekers.

Baby A:
weight = 1 pound 7 ounces

Baby B:
weight = 1 pound 6 ounces

Both babies remain head down and both heart rates were identical at 147bpm. Baby A cannot get any further down in my pelvis. The tech had a hard time getting a head measurement on him/her because that baby's head is smashed right against my cervix -- which by the way, is still nice and long (4.08cm) despite all of the Braxton Hicks contractions I have had for well over six weeks.

Baby B was not being very photogenic yesterday. He/she did not want to let us see its precious little face. Oh, and both babies were much nicer to each other than they have been in the past. There was no pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, etc. at this ultrasound. I wonder if they are trying to make amends?? They hopefully have quite a long time to live in those cramped quarters, so maybe they are trying to make the most of it!

Here are more pictures of the babies. Again, our scanner is not working, so I had to take pictures of the pictures. Sorry if they are slightly blurry!

Baby A waving at the camera!

Baby A with its little butt up in the air.

Baby A's profile.

Since we couldn't get a good profile, here are some appendages of Baby B! His/her little foot kicking into the air. Look at that big toe!

Baby B's gorilla arm - see the fingers dragging on the ground? Haha.

Baby B's face. Hope everyone is able to make it out.

And finally, both babies' heads.

Our tech was again awesome. She actually rearranged the schedule so that we can have her at the next ultrasound. She kept telling us how beautiful the babies are (which even though they probably tell every mom and dad that, it's always nice to hear!). The babies are definitely getting harder and harder to get good pictures of because there is very little room in there.

In non-ultrasound related news, I think the babies have made it their personal mission to make my belly button become an outtie! The past several nights, they have been kicking non-stop right underneath it. It pushes out for a brief second but then pops back in. I wish I knew which one was the responsible party, but I actually believe they are both in on this one. Such naughty little monkeys. Hey, if they are starting to be nicer to each other in the womb, they have to take their aggressions out on someone, right? So might as well be mommy!!

Weight status

In summary, I'm still not eating enough. I have gained 16 pounds at this point. I had an appointment with my dietitian today, and she would have liked to see me up to at least 20 pounds or so by now. But everyone around me can vouch for the fact that I am eating A LOT!! I think these babies just kicked my metabolism into high gear! They sure are enjoying the Beef 'n Cheddar sandwich I had from Arby's after my appointment. My belly is bouncing! Both my dietitian and my OB still want me to get up to at least 40 pounds total (maybe even 45), so I have at least 24 pounds to gain in the next 14 weeks.

When I checked in for my appointment today, the receptionist told me that I am a "very cute pregnant lady." Then she went on to say that I am all belly. Which for the most part, is true...for now! You know your belly is big when you go into a bathroom stall, and when trying to shut the door, you smack yourself in the side of the belly! Oh, and the fact that seeing your feet is not nearly as easy as it once was -- though at this point, I still can. Oh, and when you go to hug your husband, your belly touches him before your arms do!

Big ultrasound on Friday. I am so stinking excited! Stay tuned for pictures. And pray for BIG babies -- right around 1 1/2 pounds each would be great! Thinking about going to DQ for a Blizzard. The babies enjoy their sugar every now and then just like their momma!

23 weeks today and diapers

Another week down. With each passing week, it seems to become more real that this is really happening. Well, that and the fact that we are buying some much needed items whenever we feel like it. Yesterday we bought a La-z-Boy Rocker/Recliner (on clearance of course!). We might get a small rocker for the baby room, but I really wanted something comfy and which we could get several years of usage out of. Within the last 24 hours, it has served very well as a movie chair!

I also bought 160 diapers. The sad fact about all of those diapers is that they will only last about 8 days!!! Each baby will average about 10 diapers a day in the beginning...so that is 20 diapers total in one day. You can do the rest of the math. Haha. I bought one large package of Huggies and one large package of Pampers Swaddlers. They are the only two brands I could find that have Newborn diapers for babies on the smaller side.

Once they get a bit bigger, I may contemplate moving on to Luvs because the reviews are good and they are SOOO much cheaper!! I've actually read horrible reviews about Huggies, but since I had a $2 coupon, I figured I would give them a chance -- and they were also on sale! The Pampers Swaddlers have gotten the best reviews, so I will do my own comparison. Any other diapers I buy from here on out, I am going to tape the receipt to it so that if they outgrow the size I purchased or we simply don't like the brand, I can still return them for the next size up or a new brand.

The day after my last post, Nate was able to see the babies move. He said "wow, it looks like there is popcorn popping in there!!" And just like when he first felt the babies move, he giggled every time he saw them. I'm so glad he has finally been able to see them move. I felt bad talking about being able to feel or see them move when he wasn't able to.

Here is the belly picture taken this morning. I was going to try to wear the same shirt for all of the pictures, but this shirt is about to be retired. My quickly expanding belly might be able to fit into it for about another 1-2 weeks...then it'll be time to hang it up.

Here I am at 23 weeks. Measuring somewhere between 28-29 weeks!

Good appointment yesterday

So in the words of Dr. L, I "passed my inspection." My blood pressure remains good at 106/70. I am currently measuring as though I am 28 weeks pregnant if I were carrying one baby (whereas I am currently 22 1/2 weeks). And people tell me that my belly is just a little bump!! Both babies remained head down which I was so surprised about given the amount of movement I have been feeling (and seeing!) in the past several days. Hopefully they will remain that way or at least be head down by delivery day so we can attempt a vaginal delivery.

Both heart rates were in the 140's to 150's. And both babies were sound asleep. About an hour before my appointment, my belly was moving and shaking all over the place, so I knew they would be tuckered out by appointment time. Baby A was actually hiccuping. Poor little thing's head kept bouncing off its chest so hard that I am afraid that little baby is going to have whiplash!! And Baby B actually blinked at the camera! I missed it the first time when Dr. L excitedly said "did you see him blink?!" When I told her that I was watching the heartbeat instead, she kept the focus on Baby B to see if he would do it again. It took about 3 minutes or so, but sure enough, he blinked!! Amazing.

Fluid levels around each baby look really good. We have another big ultrasound scheduled for July 11, so we will know at that point if they are still growing at about the same rate. Plus I will have more pictures to share!!

As for my pain -- I have hydronephrosis on my right kidney. Things are becoming so cramped in there already, that fluid is backing up into my kidney creating a lot of pressure. It should go away after delivery. Actually, it seems to have gotten so much better in the last week or so. So I will just keep my fingers crossed.

In other exciting news, Nate got to feel the babies for the first time on Saturday. He was pretty thrilled and kept giggling each time they would bump his hand. He has not seen them move yet, but I think that is just a matter of days before they are super active while he is home. They are either really active in the middle of the day when he's not here or I am at work, or in the middle of the night when I don't want to wake him up!

So...next big ultrasound is July 11 and next appointment is July 15. Of course I will update before then!!